Three people were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide following a nearly 12-hour standoff in Nebraska, officials said.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Department said brothers Jason and John Edwards, 41 and 35 respectively, were allegedly killed by their sister's ex-boyfriend Kenneth Clark in West Omaha on Friday.
The violence unfolded after Julie Edwards, 42, and her brothers attempted to retrieve some of her belongings from Clark's home, the sheriff's department said in a statement.
The Edwards siblings were nearly finished loading their U-Haul when Clark allegedly shot the brothers inside his home and then took Julie Edwards hostage, according to the sheriff's office.
Authorities responded to the scene after receiving a call from an individual claiming to have been shot about 10:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. ET), Douglas County Chief Deputy Tom Wheeler told NBC affiliate WOWT. The sheriff's office said a preliminary investigation showed the call was likely made by John Edwards.
Sheriff’s deputies, local police, and hostage negotiators responded to the scene and Clark held Julie Edwards hostage for more than three hours before releasing her about 2:40 p.m. ET, according to WOWT.
Officials said that after nearly 11 hours of negotiations, a tactical team set off gas inside the home in an attempt to drive Clark out.
A gunshot was heard shortly after and law enforcement found Clark’s body inside a bedroom with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the sheriff's office said.
Officers also discovered the bodies of Jason and John Edwards, the sheriff's office added. It said an investigation into the incident is ongoing but that a grand jury will be convened because Clark’s death is considered an in-custody death.